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I've read quite a lot about the differences of the two, but the power outputs quoted by nearly all tuning box companies is pretty much the same output quoted by any remap company, whilst i understand that tuning boxes just mess around with fueling levels hence being limited to the max fuel flow rate and then having a top end of performance, will a decent remap not be able to change the turbo pressure as well as fueling parameters

or is it a case that the clio dci 100ps ecu is clever enough to see the extra fuel being chucked in on the tunning box front that it can then adjust turbo pressure and together that gives you the overall power output?
I'm fully aware that the turbo fitted to my car is a vgt!

ECU

Electronic Control Unit

In automotive electronics, an electronic control unit (ECU) is an embedded system that controls one or more of the electrical subsystems in a vehicle. Some modern cars have up to 70 ECUs.

Turbo

Turbo

A turbocharger is an exhaust gas-driven compressor used to increase the power output of an internal-combustion engine by compressing air that is entering the engine thus increasing the amount of available oxygen. A key advantage of turbochargers is that they offer a considerable increase in engine power with only a slight increase in weight.

Currently in scaredpassenger's garage:2004 clio dci 100, and a 2012 Vauxhall GTC VXR

In all honesty, I have had one car remapped (which delivered a fantastic transformation), and I'm (personally) a bit suspicious of boxes (although I have no experience of them).

To my mind, the box is a generic solution whereas the remap is specific for the driver's car & driving style.

I draw the analogy between going into a shoe shop, and buying blind, versus buying a pair the correct size - sure, the outcome is the same (a pair of shoes), but the way they perform will differ.

Plus, I think if you deal with an individual face-to-face (who does the conversion), you have a bit more recourse if it goes pear-shaped, than some company off the internet who may simply wash their hands & hide behind the small print.

Maybe I'm just overcautious, but an engine is a very expensive item if it goes bang.

HTH,

Paul

__________________

This job should never be complete - the day I think I've done it all, is the day I resign.

I think of the tuning box as the pure diesel tuning,in the sense that it fool the car into injecting more fuel than the original ecu map specifies for any given condition.
If we take the view that the boxes really the same, how effective one will be seems to depend on how much tolerance is built into your engine type.

I have only had direct experience of a "box" on a 90 bhp diesel,but Ive read others experience of what is probably a very similar box on the 110bhp version of the same engine.

What I get with my "box"is approximately (I think)a 115bhp type engine at hi and medium revs and something that can actually improve fuel economy if its kept on the torque curve (around 1750-2250)
If I drive it hard ..like revving to the dizzy heights of 4000+ in the gears the mpg will be worse than normal..

The impression I get from people with a box on 110bhp versions of the same engine is that they get ,maybe a 120 bhp engine at hi revs and close to a 125/130 bhp and medium revs

The torque kick is big..no doubt..higher performance wont go up much unless your fuel system is understressed as standard.

The above engines have a different turbo but are pretty much the same otherwise..

The easiest to understand diesel tuning quote ive read is :
"Add more fuel till it smokes, then add more turbo pressure,then add more fuel "..and so on.

Tuning boxes just fool the ecu into adding more fuel at any given time/load requirement.The original map is set to add the minimum amount of fuel for the same situation.
Ehats with the economy claims on tuning boxes then?.
I think its a case of holding a low rev /hi torque state even more rigourously than than the manufacturers allow for.
With a box you get a good acceleration "kick" compared to without, but the "torque curve" seems narrower.

Turbo pressure adjustment:
The common box cant affect that directly..how could it,its just a variablle resistor in the fuel pressure sensor feedback.
with a box all you get is more fuel pressure,up to the sensors limits.

There are 3 sensor tuning boxes around for alfa multijet engines..I dont know how good they are but to get it set right you would think remaps would need to be involved too.

It seems like ,if your engine has a reasonable fuel pressure safety margin.you can get ok results.
Mine is 1650bar max normal operating pressure..just like the 110bhp version but cos its in a lower state of tune it might not go to 1650bar as often.
The sensor for both engines goes to error at approx 1800 bar.

The remap,if its a good one, you would think should provide the fuel and the extra turbo pressure,at least if its a vvtturbo and its max pressure isnt contrilled mainly by a physical wastegate.
A good remap should provide more than you would get from a tuning box as the tuning box is really dependant on a best case scenario in terms of fuel pressure headroom.

There are remaps which use tuning boxes!..shows the importance of fuel pressure probably.

Cost.. well there you come to a big q...My box £35 second hand.A remap..£300 for a good one?..200,I dont know.
After 18 months on the box..I have I think at least a 20% better overall result.
A remap alone might be better .
For example I cant go over lvl 7 on my box to be 100% sure of no errors perhaps with a remap I could get to use up tothe level 9 max(0-9) all the time.
Doesnt really matter,I wont be getting a remap till guarantee is gone anyway.
It be too difficult to change back for service.

ECU

Electronic Control Unit

In automotive electronics, an electronic control unit (ECU) is an embedded system that controls one or more of the electrical subsystems in a vehicle. Some modern cars have up to 70 ECUs.

Turbo

Turbo

A turbocharger is an exhaust gas-driven compressor used to increase the power output of an internal-combustion engine by compressing air that is entering the engine thus increasing the amount of available oxygen. A key advantage of turbochargers is that they offer a considerable increase in engine power with only a slight increase in weight.

VVT

VVT

Variable valve timing, or VVT, is a generic term for an automobile piston engine technology. VVT allows the lift or duration or timing (some or all) of the intake or exhaust valves (or both) to be changed while the engine is in operation. Two stroke engines use a Power valve system to get similar results to VVT.

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